“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . .”
John 10:14 (NIV)
Even after living on a farm for a large part of my life, I had never heard the term “bummer lamb” before. The speaker I was listening to stated that when the ewe or mother has rejected her lamb, it is called a bummer lamb. And if not taken care of immediately, it will starve and die. He also stated that the bummer lamb will exhibit signs of depression and rejection. It will hang its head down and will simply lay down and not try to get up. The speaker said that what you are watching is a lamb that is dying from a broken heart.
The question is, why would the ewe reject her own baby? He listed several possibilities. First, the lamb may be weak or sick or the mother may have had a hard delivery. She may simply not have a strong maternal instinct for her baby. Also, if she gave birth to more than one lamb during delivery, she may only bond with one or two of the lambs and reject the others.
So is there anything the shepherd can do for the little bummer lamb? Oh, yes. He will take it into his home and bottle-feed it and keep it warm. He will also hold the lamb against his chest so it can hear the shepherd’s heartbeat. When it gains strength, the shepherd will put it back with the flock.
But there’s one more interesting fact: the bummer lamb, even when it is back with the flock, will never forget the shepherd; it will recognize his voice, almost as if it realizes that the shepherd saved its life. “When the shepherd calls the flock,” the speaker told us,” the bummer lamb runs to the shepherd as fast as he can because he knows his voice.”
What a beautiful example of the relationship we have with Jesus. Scripture speaks of Him as the Good Shepherd. John 10:14 says “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . .” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) points us to Jesus: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
How about you? Are you, like the bummer lamb, feeling rejected and worthless? Have events in your life left you without any hope and broken? For example, has your spouse left you for someone else? Do you have a prodigal child who has turned her back on you and refuses to even talk to you? Are you facing an illness that threatens your very way of life? The list goes on.
We all have bummer lamb moments. But the good news is that we have a shepherd - the Good Shepherd - who sees our every second on this earth and who watches over us and hears us when we call. He will intervene by gently pulling us into His arms and letting us know that He is in control.
He has a plan if we will trust Him. The Good Shepherd’s relationship with His bummer lambs is full of mercy and forgiveness, healing and love. When we dig deeply into His Word and spend time talking with Him, we will be transformed from a bummer lamb to a blessed lamb who recognizes the voice of the Good Shepherd and never leaves His side.
Father, I long to hear your voice and to throw all my cares of this world at the foot of the Cross. Thank you for taking care of me and never letting go. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
R.A.P. it up . . .
Reflect
Have you ever felt rejected by those around you, no matter what you do?
Did that lead you to the Lord or to depression and withdrawal from the world?
Apply
Bring all your disappointment and rejection and heartache to the Lord in prayer.
Journal “Good Shepherd” and write down all the blessings He has given to you as His child. Find Scripture that addresses those blessings.
Power
John 10:14 (NIV) “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. .”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV) “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV) He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
